Гроздья гнева

           Whilethesunwasup,itwasabeating,flailingheat,butnowtheheatcamefrombelow,fromtheearthitself,andtheheatwasthickandmuffling.Thelightsofthetruckcameon,andtheyilluminatedalittleblurofhighwayahead,andastripofdesertoneithersideoftheroad.Andsometimeseyesgleamedinthelightsfarahead,butnoanimalshowedinthelights.Itwaspitchdarkunderthecanvasnow.UncleJohnandthepreacherwerecurledinthemiddleofthetruck,restingontheirelbows,andstaringoutthebacktriangle.TheycouldseethetwobumpsthatwereMaandGranmaagainsttheoutside.TheycouldseeMamoveoccasionally,andherdarkarmmovingagainsttheoutside.UncleJohntalkedtothepreacher."Casy,"hesaid,"you’reafellaoughtaknowwhattodo."

           "Whattodoaboutwhat?"

           "Idunno,"saidUncleJohn.

           Casysaid,"Well,that’sgonnamakeiteasyforme!"

           "Well,youbeenapreacher."

           "Look,John,ever’bodytakesacrackatme’causeIbeenapreacher.

           Apreacherain’tnothin’butaman."

           "Yeah,but—he’s—akindofaman,elsehewouldn’tbeapreacher.Iwannaastyou—well,youthinkafellacouldbringbadlucktofolks?"

           "Idunno,"saidCasy."Idunno."

           "Well—see—Iwasmarried—fine,goodgirl.An’onenightshegotapaininherstomach.An’shesays,’Youbettergetadoctor.’An’Isays,’Hell,youjus’ettoomuch.’"UncleJohnputhishandonCasy’skneeandhepeeredthroughthedarknessathim."Shegavemealook.